The Ancien Regime of PreRevolution France
Libertyville HS
The Ancien Regime
• The aristocratic social /
political system est. in
France from 1500 to late
1700s
• Characteristics
– Divine right of kings
– Aristocratic privilege
• Born to status (not earned)
• Appointed by king to control
local government, justice
system
– Estates system
The Estates System
• Estates = social classes
of Ancien Regime
• Three social classes into
which people were born
• Royal family “above” the
Estate system, not a part
of it
Three Estates of France
• First Estate = Church
– % of population = .6%
(about 200,000)
– High clergy = drawn from
nobility
– Lower clergy = commoners
– Responsibilities
• Record keeping
• Moral police (censored
books)
– Benefits: owned 10-15%
of France’s land, tax free
– High clergy paid no taxes
Three Estates of France
• Second Estate = Nobility
– About 2% of population,
or 550,000
– Duties
• Ran local government,
judicial branch
– Benefits
• Exempt from most taxes
• Right to bear weapons
• Coat of arms
Three Estates of France
• Third Estate = everyone
else
– About 97.5% of population,
or 26.2 million
• “Bourgeoisie” = middle class
• Peasant farmers & urban
workers
– Duties
• Pay taxes (50%+ of income)
to First, Second estates &
State
• Work!!! (Farms, factories)
• Serve the First, Second
Estates and the State
– Benefits: ???
Factors contributing to French
Revolution
• Economic factors
– Massive military spending
•
•
•
•
Wars of Religion, 1562-1598
30 Years War, 1618-1648
Wars of Louis XIV, 1667-1697
War of Spanish Succession,
1702-1713
• Seven Years War, 1756-1763
• American Revolution, 1778-83
– Unmanageable national debt
– Inequitable taxation system
– High food prices
Factors contributing to French
Revolution
• Social / Political Factors
– Resentments of 3rd
Estate
– Enlightenment ideas of
liberty and republicanism
– King seen as out of
touch
• Evil ministers + good king
perception
• Firing ministers story